Two South Jersey Shore Towns Ban Styrofoam, Plastic Forks

Two South Jersey shore towns are forcing a change in the way your take-out food is packaged by banning the commonly used plastic utensils and Styrofoam containers.

Stone Harbor and Avalon seem certain to pass ordinances banning single use plastic bags, Styrofoam food packaging, and plastic straws. Such a ban would be the most restrictive in South Jersey and would be the latest local restriction on single-use disposable items. The Atlantic County Park system has just passed a similar ban. According to NJ.com,

"...businesses violating the ordinance after a warning would be subjected to an initial $200 fine for the first offense, $350 for the second offense, and $500 for each violation within a year of the others. Voting on the final passage of the Stone Harbor ordinance will take place Aug. 7. If passed, the ban would begin in Jan. 1, 2019. ...Avalon held a meeting with the merchants in the community and none were opposed to this ordinance. If approved, it would go into effect likely on June 1, 2019."